MICHAEL Owen's sister has escaped a kidnap attempt after two hooded men pounced on her as she left a gym.

Karen Owen, 28, said to be four months pregnant, struggled with the two men who demanded she drive them in her BMW from a hotel near her home in North Wales.

Ms Owen was uninjured, but badly shaken following the attack. She went on holiday shortly after the incident, which took place on January 20.

The kidnap attempt has deeply worried the Liverpool FC and England striker and his family.

Police are now reported to be reviewing security around the family, many of whom live in a cul de sac of luxury houses bought for them by the player.

Karen's father, Terry, said: "Karen was threatened with violence. But she raised the alarm and managed to struggle free as the men fled and some passers-by ran to her aid."

Karen lives with her boyfriend, Matthew, and one year old daughter, Louise, less than a mile from the St David's Park Hotel in Ewloe, Flintshire, where she had been to the gym just before the attack happened.

North Wales Police say they are treating the incident as suspicious and are reported to be reviewing security surrounding the Owen family.

The police issued a press release at the time of the attack, without naming the victim, and appealed for witnesses to help track down the pair of attackers.

In a statement, Sgt Dave Roberts said: "During the evening of January 20, a lone female left the St David's Park Hotel in Ewloe, Flintshire. As she approached her vehicle in the car park, she was approached by two young males who demanded that she drove them somewhere.

"The female refused and there was a bit of a struggle and one of the males attempted to grab the keys. The two males did not continue with the struggle and ran away." North Wales Police are appealing for witnesses to the attack.

One of the men is described as being 6ft tall and wearing a dark shell suit with the hood up. The second man was slim and also wore dark clothing with the hood up.